What is journalism anymore? That’s a question that has been asked repeatedly over the past few weeks, and it still lacks a clear, singular answer. Historically, journalism has been about gathering facts to present a story. No lean. No editorializing. Just provide the information and allow the audience to decide.
That definition has been challenged again following Jacksonville Free Press reporter Lynn Jones’ postgame interaction with Jaguars head coach Liam Coen two weeks ago. Rather than asking a question, Jones offered a message of positivity. Since then, debate over professionalism and journalistic standards has remained at an all-time high.
That’s why Charles Barkley’s appearance Tuesday on The Dan Le Batard Show was so compelling. No one would confuse the Basketball Hall of Famer with a journalist. Some would even argue he struggles as a fair commentator, given his frequent criticism of today’s NBA. Instead of breaking down basketball, Barkley delivered an unfiltered rant on the state of journalism. While Barkley’s tone was unsurprising, Le Batard’s silence in defense of the profession he built his career on was.
In typical Le Batard Show fashion, Barkley walked the line between serious and humorous. Barkley criticized those who took issue with Jones’ moment, referring to them as “punk-ass reporters” and “clowns.”
I have deep respect for Le Batard and what he has created with Meadowlark Media. He stood his ground at ESPN Radio, challenged the conventions of syndicated programming, and successfully built an empire outside traditional media structures.
I first became familiar with Le Batard through his writing and Miami sports coverage during his long tenure at The Miami Herald. Though primarily a columnist for more than 25 years, his work consistently blended fact, context, and perspective in ways that encouraged readers to think for themselves. Journalism.
Meadowlark Media prides itself on being a home for storytellers willing to ask uncomfortable questions. Between Le Batard, Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote, and The Athletic’s Pablo Torre, the company is often viewed as having one of the strongest journalist lineups in modern sports media.
Which raises an obvious question: when a guest attacks the foundation of industry that built your platform, why not engage in the debate?
Jones’ exchange with Coen wasn’t controversial because of tone. It was controversial because it wasn’t a question at all, in a setting specifically designed to limit and prioritize questioning. Were her comments empathetic? Absolutely. But empathy does not belong in place of inquiry during a postgame media session.
That isn’t journalism. Journalism is about asking questions, gathering facts, and presenting information for public consumption. Jones acted from a place of kindness during a disappointing moment, and that intent is understandable.
Still, the moment warranted criticism. Any journalist committed to professional standards would say the same. A media availability is a workplace environment, not a living room. Standards exist for a reason, and that moment failed to meet them.
Of course Barkley dismissed the critics so harshly — but it was more confusing to see Le Batard let it pass without challenge.
“Jacksonville had a great year. They won four games last year. And we got so many punks on television and on radio now,” explained Barkley. “I started looking and it was a big story brewing. Is this woman serious? She’s supposed to be a journalist. Have we got to the point now where you just have to be an idiot or fool or jackass to be on television or [a] podcast or something now?”
Le Batard has lived in those locker rooms. He’s sat through countless postgame scrums in both winning and losing moments. He has openly criticized how journalism has slipped in recent years.
So after decades in the profession, why was there no defense of it on his own program with someone bashing the standards of it?
Instead, the moment was laughed off, followed by a question that redirected the conversation toward Barkley’s ESPN colleagues.
For someone as skilled in debate and interviewing as Le Batard, the exchange felt flat. It was a missed opportunity on a platform filled with voices who still identify as journalists to defend the role itself.
Journalism requires objectivity. Questions cannot be rooted in personal feelings or emotional interpretation. That standard has not changed. What Jones did in that moment violated it. That reality does not diminish her career, but it does matter.
Context matters. Role clarity matters more. Many who defended Jones leaned on descriptions like sweet, positive, and kind, framing the criticism as an attack on “America’s grandmother.” Would the reaction have been the same if the reporter were a man? Would the defense have sounded the same?
That’s why Le Batard’s silence stood out. Even if it wasn’t the biggest opportunity to challenge a guest, it was still a moment to defend the profession. It didn’t need yelling and shouting, but it did need debate. Yes, headlines may be driven by fools and provocateurs, but this criticism was never about attention. It was about responsibility.
What is journalism anymore? That question will continue to be debated as legacy media gives way to new platforms, from government press rooms to high school football sidelines.
Journalism doesn’t need to be cold or cruel. It does, however, need clarity, boundaries, and purpose. Most of all, it needs people willing to defend what it is — and what it isn’t — when those lines blur in real time.
Moments like this are when veterans of the craft should speak up, not laugh it off or redirect the conversation. Silence, especially from those who built careers inside the profession, quietly reshapes the rules for everyone watching.
New media will evolve. Platforms will change. Personalities will grow louder. But journalism, at its core, remains about accountability through questioning, not comfort through commentary.
Lose that, and the job becomes something else entirely.
And if we can’t agree on that anymore, then perhaps the most honest answer is this: journalism hasn’t disappeared — but too many people have stopped standing up for it when it matters most.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
